قَالَتِ ٱلۡأَعۡرَابُ ءَامَنَّاۖ قُل لَّمۡ تُؤۡمِنُواْ وَلَٰكِن قُولُوٓاْ أَسۡلَمۡنَا
The key verse:
"The bedouins say: We have believed. Say: You have not believed. Rather say: We have submitted, for faith has not yet entered your hearts." (49:14)
Islam (linguistic): Submission and compliance — from "sallama."
Iman (linguistic): Belief and security — from "amina."
The distinction in Quran and Sunnah:
- When both appear together: They are distinguished — Islam: outward actions (testimony, prayer, zakat...) — Iman: inner conviction and certainty of the heart.
- When one appears alone: It includes the other — "O you who believe" includes deeds; "the Muslims" includes their beliefs.
Evidence from the Hadith of Jibril:
"What is iman? He said: To believe in Allah, His angels... What is Islam? He said: To testify... and establish prayer..." — the Prophet distinguished between them when they appear together. (Muslim 8)
The bedouins of Al-Hujurat:
They sought to claim full iman — but it was disclosed that what had entered them was outward Islam (submission) not firm iman. This does not remove them from Islam but clarifies their rank.
Question: What is the distinction between iman and Islam when they appear together in a single text? What is the evidence?
Answer: Islam: outward actions — Iman: inner conviction of the heart. Evidence: Hadith of Jibril in Muslim and Al-Hujurat verse 14.